All of Mr Andrew Muir’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
1,670 records match, page 24 of 67.
The Budget has had implications for the farming community because there was hope that the UK Government would rethink the inheritance tax. They have not done that. That is the major concern of the farming community in Northern Ireland. The Minister of Finance outlined more about that on Monday. The challenge ahead for…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief
My Department's sustainable agriculture programme contains the Farming for the Generations scheme. I thank everyone who has been taking that forward. It aims to raise awareness of the need for succession planning on farms and supports farm families through a three-phased approach: planning for succession, developing…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief
As Minister, I am aware that, since we left the EU, the disparity between North and South has become more acute. That is a result of Brexit and because of decisions by the UK Government, particularly on inheritance tax. That continues to cause real anxiety in the farming community, particularly in the run-up to April…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief
I have written to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to highlight my concerns about the impact of limiting agriculture and business property reliefs pertaining to inheritance tax to £1 million on family farms and succession planning. I have…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Agricultural Relief
I am conscious of the concerns about that and the risks to infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Detailed and robust modelling work and scientific analysis is being done on where we are going in that regard. That helps to give us evidence for where we should intervene. Work is also being undertaken to explore any…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Coastal Resilience and Adaptation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Coastal Resilience and Adaptation
My Department consulted on the review of the Northern Ireland marine protected areas strategy in 2024 and has now produced an updated MPA strategy for 2025-2030. The strategy sets out the priorities for the next five years and will focus on ensuring that MPAs are managed effectively. My Department has recently…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Coastal Resilience and Adaptation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Coastal Resilience and Adaptation
The coastal forum met on 19 November and provided a valuable opportunity to review progress that has been made on coastal management issues. I co-chaired the meeting with the Minister for Infrastructure. I am pleased to report that there has been significant progress in delivering the agreed work programme. A major…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Coastal Resilience and Adaptation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Coastal Resilience and Adaptation
Thank you, Danny. It is really important that I outline what we are doing through the sustainable agriculture programme, because the horticulture sector is an important part of our wider agri-food industry, and I am keen to support it. The Department's sustainable agriculture programme provides options for all farm…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh
I am very conscious of the infrastructure that is required for the apple industry. We will roll out the sustainable farming investment scheme next year. That will provide support for required equipment. I am happy to engage with officials on whether cold stores are within the scope of that scheme or whether we could…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh
Thank you, Cathal. I am very proud of our PGI status, and it is important that we continue to support it. We have a range schemes in place already. As I outlined, there are also horticulture pilot schemes to support the industry. If there are any other specific suggestions that people want me to take forward, I am…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh
I provided a detailed response to your original question, in which I outlined the schemes that are available to the horticulture sector, particularly in relation to apple growing. I have been down to visit producers and processors in Armagh. My Department is committed to supporting them. We should be very proud that…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh
I am aware of the importance of the apple-growing industry in County Armagh and the positive impact that it delivers to the economy, the environment and the biodiversity of the region. I have seen that for myself, both as Minister and before I took up the role. The draft green growth strategy sets out our long-term…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Apple Growing, County Armagh
The cost is unsustainable for my Department, and, most importantly, for the farming community. Whilst we cover 100% compensation for this, I fully recognise that that does not reflect the full cost to the farming community in Northern Ireland as a result of a herd breakdown and TB. I am conscious of a previous…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria
I am grateful to my Irish Government colleagues for working with me on that pilot, particularly the Taoiseach's office where the Shared Island funding for it is concerned. It is a regionalised approach that, as I said, has proven to be successful in other parts of the world. It is informed by the three pillars,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria
As I outlined in my previous answer, I am serious about the issue. We have three pillars: people; cattle; and wildlife. I have been clear previously and will be clear again today about the need for a wildlife intervention option, but it is important that that is done correctly. That is why we will consult on it in the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria
I am acutely aware of the devastating impact that bovine TB is having on our farm families in Northern Ireland. That is why we set up the partnership group and designed the blueprint that we seek to deliver. It is based on three pillars: people; cattle; and wildlife. By making a collective effort in those three areas,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria
I was pleased to establish earlier this year a new stakeholder body, the TB partnership steering group, to help us address the challenges of getting bovine TB under control in Northern Ireland. That work led to the group's blueprint for eradication, which I endorsed and published in April this year. New departmental…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bovine TB: Intervention Criteria
On the issue of ammonia, we are, hopefully, acknowledging that it is complex and that we need to remain on the right side of the law. I have had sustained engagement with officials on that. There is a desire to look at whether we can give more advice to people, because they have to navigate the system. I acknowledge…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Food Security Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Food Security
Will the Member give way?
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Food Security Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Food Security
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. This DUP motion is perhaps one of the most bizarre that the Assembly has debated for a long while. It is riddled with contradictions and, as per usual, light on solutions. DUP Members bemoan the outworkings of Brexit, a cause that they championed, which has damaged the UK…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Food Security Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Food Security
Will the Member also acknowledge that the issue of ammonia is complex, and that the Office for Environmental Protection has set that out?
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Food Security Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Food Security
Will the Member give way?
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Food Security Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Food Security
Thank you, Stephen. I am aware of the impact of the restrictions, which you outlined. There is the capacity for direct export to slaughter. A form is needed for that, and it is available on the DAERA website. The focus now has to be on vigilance. We in the Department are working on increased testing so that we can…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor
As I outlined in my statement, I made the decision to make the vaccines available in Northern Ireland. The decision is for individual farmers to take in conjunction with advice from their private veterinary practitioner, and I encourage them to do it. The most immediate focus has to be the eradication of the virus in…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to make a statement to the Assembly on the recent suspect case of the bluetongue virus (BTV) in Northern Ireland. I intend to use the statement to update Members on the current state of BTV incursion across the UK; the suspect case of BTV at a farm near…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor
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